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Lead Stories: Friday, August 29, 2008

Bekele and Dibaba to Double at Beijing Olympics

Posted July 15th, 2008 at 9:07 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics

Bernard Lagat’s ambitious goal to succeed Hicham El Guerrouj as the Olympic 1500m and 5000m champion might have gotten even more difficult with today’s team announcement by the Ethiopian Olympic Committee (EOC). Despite earlier indications that he would only defend his 10,000m Olympic title in Beijing, the EOC included Kenenisa Bekele on its 5000m roster as well.

Less than two months ago, Bekele told reporters in Hengelo, The Netherlands, that a double was out of the question.

“It’s very tough to run a double at the Olympics,” he said. “I ran many kilometers in a few days in Athens, and I lost a lot of power.”

Apparently Bekele has had a change of heart. The world record holder at both events and widely acknowledged as the finest distance runner of his generation, Bekele will be aiming to improve upon his showing over the shorter distance in Athens four years ago, where he finished runner-up to El Guerrouj.
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The Week in the Rear View: Racing News June 9 - June 15

Posted June 16th, 2008 at 4:11 PM by Jay Hicks

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Columns, College, Week in Rear View

The Week In the Rear View is a weekly column wrapping up the week’s events in running and track & field. I am normally found at PreraceJitters.com, writing about the fast life of track and field.

The week in track and field was a wild and exciting one. The NCAA Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa provided a sneak peek of the next set of runners who just forged their name into the history books of this sport and hope to achieve the same kind of success at the next level.

Is LSU ready to be crowned the new collegiate sprint capital? Both the women’s and men’s 100-meter champions hail from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Richard Thompson (10.04) and Kelly-Ann Baptiste (11.20) scored major points for the Tigers this past weekend.

Things certainly did not go as planned for Florida State University’s Walter Dix, but he still found a moment to shine. After a disappointing fourth place finish in the 100-meters, Dix looked like he was shot out of a cannon as he won (20.04) the men’s 200 over Richard Thompson. The Seminole now has his eyes laid squarely on the monumental task of the making the Olympic Team.

Leonel Manzano (Pictured) of the University of Texas showed that Bernard Lagat is not the only 1500 meter runner with a vicious kick. Manzano led wire to wire in wearing out the field in his NCAA championship run while showing incredible heart.

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Pending World Record for Tune in Ostrava

Posted June 12th, 2008 at 1:15 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Ethiopian Dire Tune backed up her surprise Boston Marathon victory with a pending world record in the rarely contested one hour run today in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Less than one month past her 23rd birthday, Tune made it around the track a little more than 46 times, covering 18,517 meters before the one hour time limit. That easily surpassed the 18,340 meters Kenya’s
Tegla Loroupe covered in Borgholzhausen, Germany, on August 8, 1998, the previous world record.
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In Boston Cheruiyot Defends & Tune Wins Dramatic Sprint

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 6:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot won his fourth Boston Marathon and Dire Tune her first in a memorable 112th edition of America’s oldest and most historic marathon race.

Cheruiyot, the 29 year-old Kenyan who is the reigning World Marathon Majors champion, made a run at his own course record, leading a pack of six through the half-way in a brisk 1:03:07. Compatriots James Kwambai and James Mwangi Macharia joined him along with Moroccan Abderrahime Bouramdane and Ethiopians Kasime Adillo and Tesfaye Girma.

“As usual the course was very difficult and I tried to push harder this year to achieve my personal goal of running a 2:07,” said Cheruiyot.
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2008 World Marathon Majors Series Continues With Boston Marathon

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 1:31 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

The 2008 World Marathon Majors (WMM) series continued today with the crowning of the men’s and women’s champions at the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. The inaugural WMM men’s champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot of Kenya moved into second place in the 2007-08 series championship in becoming the youngest four-time Boston Marathon champion. Ethiopia’s Dire Tune added her name to the series leaderboard in the closest women’s finish in the history of the race.

Martin Lel of Kenya and Irina Mikitenko of Germany both earned 25 points in winning last week’s Flora London Marathon, the first of six races in the series in 2008. The next points races in the 2007-08 series will be the Olympic Marathons this August in Beijing. At the conclusion of the two-year series this fall, the male and female point leaders will each be awarded $500,000.
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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: 22-yr old Dire Tune Wins Closest Boston Marathon in History

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

In the closest race in the 112 year history of the Boston Marathon, 22-yr old Dire Tune of Ethiopia defeated Russia’s 25-yr old stallion Alevtina Bikitimrova. Tune crossed the line in 2:25:21 and became the youngest Boston champion since 21-yr old American Joan Benoit Samuelson won the race in 1979.

Tune and Biktimirova traded the lead in dramatic fashion throughout the final 800m with each matching then other’s surge just when you thought they were done. Tune ultimately proved to be too strong as she took off with 100m to go, finished 2 seconds ahead of Biktimrova, and collapsed after breaking the tape.

Rita Jeptoo, the 2007 Boston Marathon Champion, finished third in a time of 2:26:34, over a minute behind Biktimirova. Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka came in fourth in 2:28:12 while Ethiopia’s Askale Tafa Magarsa rounded out the top five in 2:29:48. Defending champion Lidiya Grigoryeva was part of the lead pack for the first half of the race but eventually faded to finish ninth in 2:35:37. Top American honors went to Ashley Anklam who ran 2:48:43 to finish an impressive 15th in a race where many top Americans were absent due to yesterday’s Olympic Marathon Trials.

Top Female Finishers:

1. Dire Tune ETH 2:25:25
2. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 2:25:27
3. Rita Jeptoo KEN 2:26:34
4. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 2:28:12.
5. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 2:29:48

For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:

http://boston.thefinalsprint.com/

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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Tune, Biktimrova battle through final 3.2 miles in extremely close race

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:50 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

Tune and Biktimirova a 5:12 mile between 22 and 23, and they continue to run essentially stide-by-side as they head towards the 24 mike mark.

Tune looks more comfortable than Bikitimirova at this point, and most believe the young Ethiopian also has better finishing speed. Therefore, Biktimrova needs to find a way to either make a move or hang with Tune and the legendary Ethiopian kick.

The next closest elite woman is Rita Jeptoo and she is almost 1:30 behind.

For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:

http://boston.thefinalsprint.com/

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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: It’s Biktimirova and Tune in front

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:48 AM by Jared Markowitz

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Live Race Coverage

The battle is still raging up front in the women’s race at the 2008 BAA Boston Marathon. Alevtina Biktimirova and Dire Tune are battling back and forth, trading the lead in what has become an epic struggle through 22 miles. They both look strong- this is going to be a great finish!

For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:

http://boston.thefinalsprint.com/

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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Biktimirova, Tune battle it out through 20 miles in two-woman race

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:32 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Dire Tune, the 22-yr old phenom from Ethiopia, and Russia’s 25-year old Alevtina Biktimirova, who has eight top-three finishes in her young career, are not battling it out in what has become a two-woman race.

Between mile 19 and 20, Biktimirova ran a 5:23 mile … going UP Heartbreak Hill

The Ethiopians are known for their finishing kick speed and they longer she is able to hang on and stay on the heels of Biktimirova - the better the odds of her coming out on top. It is only a matter of time before the 22-yr old makes a move.

For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:

http://boston.thefinalsprint.com/

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LIVE at the Boston Marathon: Pack of four pull ahead of Prokopcuka; Tear through Mile 18

Posted April 21st, 2008 at 11:15 AM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Jelena Prokopcuka has been passed at mile 18 after being unable to keep up with the 5:10 pace run over the hills by Ethiopia’s Dire Tune, Russia’s Alevtina Biktimirova, and Kenya’s Magdaline Chemjor & Rita Jeptoo.

Prokopcuka, after initally falling back and starting to make a dent on the distance between her and the leaders, has now further even further back and is out of sight for those riding in the lead truck. We are hearing reports that she is at least 35 seconds back.

Bikitimirova is really pushing the pace, trying to win her first major, marathon title. Her previous victories have come in Honolulu (2007) and the European Championships (2006).

Top Women at 30k:

1. Alevtina Biktimirova RUS 1:45:24
2. Dire Tune ETH 1:45:24
3. Rita Jeptoo KEN 1:45:24
4. Askale Tafa Magarsa ETH 1:45:29
5. Jelena Prokopcuka LAT 1:45:52
6. Nuta Olaru ROM 1:46:05
7. Bruna Genovese ITA 1:46:43
8. Lidiya Grigoryeva RUS 1:47:07
9. Robe Tola Guta ETH 1:47:40

For more news, analysis, interviews, videos, and results from the 2008 Boston Marathon and USA Olympic Women’s Marathon Trials, please visit:

http://boston.thefinalsprint.com/

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